Gary Stites & The Satellites

 

Gary Stites grew up in Wheat Ridge, Colorado – His family is still there to this day – Wheat Ridge  borders north Denver and Arvada.

He was born on July 23rd, 1940.  He began his career at age 14 but was set back with an attack of rheumatic fever.  A bit later on in his teens he started up his group “The Satellites and they began performing around the Denver area 3.2 beer clubs including Denver’s “Hop Spot”.

Gary was heavily into restoring and customizing hot rods during his time living in Wheat Ridge.  He owned a 1955 Mercury and a 1947 Ford into which he dropped a 1952 Olds’ engine – a real trophy winner for Gary.

He attended Wheat Ridge High School as did Dean Reed, and most members of The Action Brass.  Information on his backing group is sketchy at best but a Band Box artist gave it his best shot providing me with some of the names below (please provide updates if you have them).  I have elected to include Gary’s solo discography here as well – just because!

Gary has been rumored to have participated in some of Ronny Kae’s recording sessions at Band Box Records -or at least worked at times with the Band Box Records’ drummer.

Gary Stites Fan Club

When Gary received the call by Carlton Records’ Monty Kelly to come to Philadelphia to audition (Gary was 18 years old at the time) he was told to come alone and so that would be it for the Satellites as a backing band.

The curious “Birdwatcher” endeavor occurred down in Fort Lauderdale in about 1965 – after Gary had migrated to that state.  It was a one-time shot and that was that.  The Birdwatchers had recorded several tracks prior to Gary’s arrival.

I received word from David Wood – guitar player who appeared at the Exodus and recorded with Band Box artist Walt Conley, that two additional members of Gary’s backing Satellites at various times were guitarist Jimmy Acker and then guitarist Tommy Sherman.

• Gary Stites – vocals (Rockin’ Rhythm Kings – Gary Stites and The Birdwatchers)
• Ken Gillette – drums
• Bobby Leo – Sax
• Jimmy Acker – guitar (Satellites)
• Tommy Sherman – guitar (Satellites)
• Sam Severin – Vocals (Satellites)
• Donnie Stites – (Satellites)
• Bob Prose – (Satellites)

(Note: Larry Higgins and others agree that Donnie Stites – younger brother of Gary – fronted his own version of the Satellites for a brief time – and they recorded one known single on the DMG label in 1960.)

Gary would eventually depart Colorado making his way east changing labels first signing on with Madison Records out of New York in 1960 and then doing brief stints with Mr. Peeke, Mala, Living Legend and Epic.  Gary was the founder of Living Legend Records – an endeavor during his time in Florida.

While residing in Florida, Gary raised thorough bred horses for a time.  There are reports that Gary’s health has not been well but he seems to have not remained in contact with his Colorado acquaintances.

Wheat Ridge Colorado “Stites Park” dedicated to Henry “Hank” Stites – father of Gary Stites

Gary Stites – Sheet Music – 1959

Cash Box June 13th, 1959

Cash Box October 24th, 1959

Cash Box March 12th, 1960

Cash Box September 24th, 1960

Cash Box April 1st, 1961

Gary Stites Discography

45 – Carlton 508 – Lonely For You/Shine That Ring – Charted April 13th, 1959 – 14 Weeks – Peaks #24

45 – Carlton 516 – A Girl Like You/Hey Little Girl – Charted July 20th, 1959 – 5 Weeks – Peaks #80

45 – Carlton 521 – Starry Eyed/Without Your Love – Charted November 2nd, 1959 – 7 Weeks – Peaks #77

45 – Carlton 525 – Lawdy Miss Clawdy/Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye – Charted February 22nd, 1960 – 9 Weeks – Peaks #47

45 – Carlton 529 – Gloria Lee/Hey, Hey

45 – Carlton Canada 508 – Lonely for You b/w Shine That Ring (Note Spelling deviation of Stites’ first name)

45 – Madison 138 – Little Tear/Young Love – 1961

Cash Box 1961

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45 – Madison 155 – Honey Girl/Little Lonely One – 1961

45 – Mr.. Peeke 122 – Only a Fool Would Say/You Doubted Me – 1962

45 – Mala 474 – Find Yourself Another Fool/You’ve Known So Many (I’ve Known So Few) – 1964

 

45 – Epic 5-10064 – Hurting/Thinking of You – Charted October 8th, 1966 – 1 Week – Peaks #123

Gary Stites Living Legend Label

Gary started up this label while residing in the State of Florida:

45 – Living Legend 101 – Real Appeal/While I’m Gone

Other Artists on Living Legend

The Soul Pleasers – Living Legend

The Mor-Loks Living Legend

The Evil – Living Legend

The Upper Hand – Living Legend

Custer’s Last Band – Living Legend

The Gents Five/Smokey 007 – Living Legend

45 – Jeannie 5006 – Reissue Series – Help Me Make It Through the Night (Sammi Smith) b/w Lonely For You by Gary Stites

45 – Good Old Gold 136 (Reissue Series) – The All American Boy by Bill Parsons b/w Lonely For You

45 – London UK 8881 – Lonely For You b/w Shine That Ring – 1959

45 – London UK 9003 – Starry Eyed b/w Without Your Love – 1959

45 – London UK 9082 – Lawdy Miss Clawdy b/w Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye – 1960

45 – London Australia 1528 – Lonely For You b/w Shine That Ring

45 – Top Rank Australia 22 – Little Lonely One b/w Honey Girl

45 – London Germany 20312 – Starry Eyed b/w Without Your Love

45 – The Beat Goes On Canada 6742 – My Colouring Book (Sandy Stewart) b/w Lonely for You

Gary Stites Filmography

“The Dick Clark Show” – Four Episodes – 1959

Singing “Starry Eyed” – “Lonely For You”

Gary Stites

“American Bandstand” One Episode – 1959

“Hy Lit Show – Philadelphia WKBS TV – 1959

“The Alan Freed Show” – 1959